“14 Benefits From Breast Feeding” plus 4 more

14 Benefits From Breast Feeding
Diaper Rash - Should I Be Alarmed?
Tips For a Successful Start to Preschool
Buying For Babies
Life After Baby - Surviving Your Baby's First Year

Posted: 26 Oct 2009 09:00 PM PDT

Many of them are struggling whether to feed their baby with formulated milk or breast milk, some may think that formula is equally good as compare to breast milk, some may think also there might be side effect to the mother's body health as well as the shape of the breast may get affected, which is definitely wrong! There are several benefits for breast fed baby as well as some benefits for the mother are illustrated as below:

Some of the benefits of breast feeding include:

1. Delay the return of your periods, thus giving you a rest from the "most difficult time" of a month. Be aware that this may not happen every month and never use this control method to prevent pregnancy.

2. Decrease risk of breast cancer.

3. Decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.

4. Decrease the risk of post partum depression.

5. Eye-to-eye contact during breast feeding can build a fantastic relationship between the mother and the baby.

6. Milk from the breasts is always free, thus, save you ton of money from expensive formulated milk.

7. Antibody generated from the breasts milk helps protect the baby from germs and sickness.

8. Have you ever heard "DHA rich" from the formulated milk advertisement? Yes, this is contained in breast milk as well, a fatty acid important for brain and eye development.

9. Decrease incidents such as bacterial meningitis, ear infection, diarrhea and so on.

10. Breast feeding protects the baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

11. Breast feeding protects the baby against asthma.

12. Breast feeding protects the baby against diabetes.

13. Both formulated milk and breasts milk is proteins rich, however, breast mild is easier to be digested compare to formula, hence, allow the baby for better digesting.

14. Breast milk is good for premature baby, they will be benefited from the antibodies generated from the breast milk and holding a higher capability to resist disease.

To conclude, there are more than the benefits illustrated above from breast feeding, not only for the baby but also for the good health of the mother.

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Diaper Rash - Should I Be Alarmed?

Posted: 26 Oct 2009 06:22 PM PDT

When does diaper rash arise? Usually during the warmer months, a baby's skin becomes more moist and sweaty and the rash breaks out. Diaper rash can be avoided in nearly all cases by simply avoiding certain products or fabrics that are skin irritants.

A way to inhibit further diaper rash breakouts is by going to your local pharmacy and buying a zinc oxide skin cream which will help reduce most of the rash. These skin creams act as a surface on your baby's skin and helps prevent too much dampness from forming on his or her skin.

Try not to rub the barrier cream into the skin. It will be much more useful if you just apply a thin layer to the affected area of skin. Different factors at play can be the culprit of skin irritations. A baby's diaper that's extremely taut could decrease the amount of air movement and cause your baby to perspire more. Additional causes of diaper rash and skin inflammation are acute instances of diarrhea, yet these situations are much more rare.

Some cheaper diaper brands are known to cause baby skin irritation. If your baby's rash does not go away after a week or so, change brands of diapers and see what happens. Different brands of diaper manufacturers use different additives in the diapers that might not be sitting agreeably with your baby's skin, and this includes the baby wipes you use as well.

Through letting your baby's backside to naturally air-dry after a diaper change, you can help avoid the triggering of irritation. The next time you pop in the shop to get diapers, go for a loose-fit diaper or one size bigger nappies. Diapers that are too tight-fit prevent air circulation and produce humidity buildup faster. They also generate more skin friction as well.

In the past we didn't have the luxury of using disposable synthetic diapers so babies had to be dressed in reusable cotton diapers instead, and this resulted in much fewer cases of skin rash. Cotton is an airy, light fabric that allows the baby's skin to breathe and to keep cool. It is also free of added compounds that may be a skin irritant.

If the rash turns out to be very red and scaly and lasts for a week or more, it's time to visit the doctor as it might be a fungal infection at hand. Don't be concerned though as most yeast infections are simply treatable with anti-fungal creams.

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Tips For a Successful Start to Preschool

Posted: 26 Oct 2009 05:54 PM PDT

As I approach my first day of preschool, I am excited for the new school year. We have a young class this year, including two children who haven't turned three yet. Sometimes it's more difficult for younger kids to make a smooth transition. At our Meet and Greet session, my teaching partner and I gave the parents a few tips for success, to help make the year get off to a great start. They include:

1. Please be on time. When children arrive at school, they have jobs to do. They hang up their coats and put their backpacks in their cubbies, and then sit at their spot in our circle. For a few minutes they get to enjoy what we call the "coffee klatch" when they can talk to each other without teacher involvement. They love this time to swap stories about their new clothes or favorite cartoon. It's adorable to watch. After a few minutes, our lessons begin. If you bring your child in late, not only does he miss out on this great start to the day, but he disrupts the lesson that the other children are learning.

2. Leave your child at the door without coming into the classroom. It is so tempting to want to help your child hang up his things and give him an extra kiss goodbye inside the classroom but that is not a good idea. We urge parents to give a big hug and kiss at the door, and then let their child cross the threshold into the classroom on his own. Not only is it an obvious separation, but some children get upset when they see any parent in the classroom, especially if his mom has already left.

3. Label everything (even things you can't imagine your child leaving behind!)

4. Read the memo board every day. When you ask your child what she did in school today, odds are she won't have much to share. We take the time to write a fairly detailed note with details of our day and we hang it in the hall before pick-up time. If you know what your child did in school, you can ask her leading questions. Not only does this help build communication skills, but it shows that you are interested in what she did in school that day.

Have a wonderful year!

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Buying For Babies

Posted: 26 Oct 2009 05:30 PM PDT

Whether you are welcoming your own little one to the family or helping a family member, friend, or neighbor prepare for the arrival you want to try to find the perfect baby gifts or supplies for your money. The overwhelming list of how much a baby needs or a new mother wants can be quite startling at first. The important thing is to choose quality baby gifts that are appropriate for the new bundle of joy.

Before the stork ever arrives it is time to shop. Preparing for a baby is no easy task but it can be very fun! Nowadays there are many websites that can help you choose a gift easily as they have pre-assembled gift baskets for boys and girls. If the parents have not chosen to reveal the sex of the baby you can also choose an item that is gender-neutral. For example, every mother could use a rocking chair for the nursery. You could even buy a smaller rocking chair for the coming years when the toddler needs a place to sit!

There are many things a new mother needs such as bottles, burp cloths or luxury robes for the baby after bath-time. You might try buying the mother a tote bag. This can be used in addition to a diaper bag. For instance, a new mother may like to use the tote bag to assemble an overnight bag that is always ready. This enables her to always have the tote bag ready so that she doesn't have to worry about forgetting something while at the same time not overstuffing the diaper bag on a daily basis. These are all great baby shower gifts. Bringing a beautiful baby shower gift will be very much appreciated by the mother-to-be.

If you want to be a little more personal when choosing your gift ask the mother what she plans to name the baby. By knowing the sex and name of the baby you can order something that can be personalized with the baby's name on it. For instance nowadays you can order every thing from a stool to baby t-shirts to blankets to tote bags and even burp cloths! While having a personalized burp cloth may not mean much to you-it is very exciting for a young mother to see her baby's name on everything! She will enjoy and appreciate this. Baby blankets and tote bags will be used for many years and kept as keepsakes for even longer.

If you would like to buy something a little fancier for the new baby you may opt to purchase baby jewelry. For instance, after the baby is born you may wish to purchase to porcelain limoge. You can find these made of 24 Carat Gold and have them personalized with the baby's name and birthday. For little girls you may choose a bracelet for the little wrist that can be worn for pictures or special occasions and will be kept as memento for years to come!

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Life After Baby - Surviving Your Baby's First Year

Posted: 26 Oct 2009 04:51 PM PDT

Few events can change your life as much as having a baby can. Where before, you only thought of your needs and your partner's, now, you have an entire person who depends on you to take care of his or her needs. Surviving your baby's first year is no bed of roses, especially if it's your first baby. In fact, there are times when you'll feel like you're going crazy. Still, here are ways to make it easier and even enjoyable.

1. Make adjustments.

Face the fact that your life will never be the same again, not yourself, not your house, not even your relationship with your partner. Pine for the life you once had occasionally and complain if you must, but afterwards, accept the changes and adjust, even if it means sleeping mostly during the day, getting a new job or spending less time with your partner. These sacrifices can be difficult to make at first, but in time, you'll get used to your new life and even start loving it.

2. Breastfeed if you can.

You've heard it time and time again - breast milk is the best milk for babies. Aside from its nutritious benefits, though, breastfeeding can make life easier for you. For example, you can easily comfort your baby and stop him or her from crying faster than bottle-fed babies, especially if he or she just wants some reassurance or some time with you, while you yourself can find comfort in bonding with your baby. You won't have to get up at night to mix formula if you're breastfeeding, too, so you can get your night's sleep back sooner than other moms.

3. Rest whenever you can.

Yes, taking care of a baby can sap you of all your energy, especially if you haven't had enough sleep to begin with, so rest whenever you can. Take power naps and sleep whenever your baby is sleeping. Never mind the dirty dishes or the laundry. You can take care of that later on or ask someone to help you with them. In fact, don't hesitate to ask for help and accept it when offered. You may be a mother now but you're still only human.

4. Don't forget about yourself.

Your baby may be the new center of your life but you still have your own life, which you will come back to once your baby is older. Therefore, try to do some things for yourself when you're not tired, like fixing yourself up, reading a book or spending time with your partner. This will help you maintain your sense of self, and you won't feel the need for self-pity.

5. Take a break occasionally.

Yes, it's alright to take a break, and it doesn't have to be a long one like spending the night away from your baby or spending an entire day with your partner. It can be a short break like simply soaking in the bath, walking the dog for a few minutes, or simply sitting in the garden to get a breath of fresh air. You'll feel refreshed and better equipped to take care of your baby afterwards, so don't feel guilty.

6. Keep track of baby's progress.

Keep a journal and take as many pictures of your baby as you want. Look forward to each of your baby's milestones and enjoy each one, and you will soon find that time slips by faster. By seeing how far you and your baby have come, you're sure to feel a surge of hope and confidence that you can get through anything.

7. Tell yourself it will get better.

Surviving your baby's first year may be tough but keep in mind that he or she is only a baby once, and babies grow very fast. If your baby is fussy or refuses to sleep at night, remember that things will eventually get better. Just bear with things for now and before you now it, your baby will be much easier to take care of. In fact, soon, he or she won't need taking care of at all. When that time comes, you'll probably want to relive those first few months again, though you might not believe it now, so be positive and enjoy every fleeting moment. You'll survive and better yet, you'll find out you love being a mother, after all.

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